Broken Vessels Still Matter to God

Broken Pottery Matters

Do you feel broken?  

If so, you are not alone.  It is something many of us experience.  Whether physical or emotional, life has a way of beating us down and breaking us apart. 

Ongoing physical struggles, from a rapidly deteriorating spine, have on many occasions left me feeling useless in God’s kingdom.  While the list of what I can do continues to shrink, pain does its part to try to rob any remaining interest.

If I let it, brokenness convinces me that my life no longer matters.  Until God reminds me that my disabilities do not define His ability.

We are but jars of clay.  However, when filled with the Holy Spirit upon salvation, we instantly become vessels capable of emitting the glorious aroma of Christ.  Perhaps even more so, when broken.

If the fragrance on the inside of an exquisite perfume bottle is never shared, the outward composition matters little.  When opened, though, the scent gradually enhances the nearby surroundings. 

And if a perfume bottle ever breaks, the aroma literally takes over.

Broken Vessels, Letting Christ Take Over

Christ longs to do just that ~ to take over.  He will even use brokenness to bring it about.  So that His aroma will be what others sense in our lives, and His strength getting us through what they see.

Are you a broken vessel?  Has life as you once knew it gone awry?  Have things you love seemingly been ripped apart?

If you answered yes to any, let me assure you that God accepts you, broken pieces and all.  You still matter to Him. 

Despite the circumstances, allow Jesus to release His fragrance through you.  Rather than questioning why things happened or waste time longing for things to go back to the way they were, yield all the broken fragments into His care.

Should you keep believing for a miracle?  Absolutely, but in the meantime, stop fretting about what He has allowed in your life.  It’s for a reason.  His reasons.

Just let the brokenness to do its work.  Of softening your heart to others and getting rid of things displeasing to Him.  Of trusting Him more and simply doing what you can.

Remember, what we may view as broken, God sees as limitless.

As unique opportunities to be more dependent upon Him, to where every breath has time to offer praise and every moment space for Him to breathe instead.

Though never enjoyable and often contrary to what we want, brokenness that is surrendered to God can render His presence in us unfettered.  Something very much worthwhile and needful in our world.  His glorious aroma, spilling forth from broken vessels. 

Vessels that matter to Him eternally.

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
2 Corinthians 4:7

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Do You Have Room For Him?

Be the kind of innkeeper who always make room for the Savior!

Life Is A Beautiful Mess

 

Just a couple more days till Christmas!

I can just imagine how Mary must have felt, knowing that very soon

her baby would be born.

I know for myself, the closer I got to delivery with my children, the more I wanted

things in order. I wanted to feel prepared

to bring our new baby home where everything was awaiting his/her arrival

to live comfortably.

But here is Mary, being great with child the Bible says.

And they’re still searching for a place to stay.

No one had any room for them…

We all know the story, that Jesus was born in a stable

and laid in a manger.

The people of Bethlehem were preoccupied by the census that was taking place

and the things going on in their lives.

They had no room for Jesus!

It breaks my heart to see people today so busy with life, so preoccupied

with the things…

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Bright Sunshine Ahead ~ God Has Done Great Things

The dark clouds are gone; there is bright sunshine ahead

Hello, my blogging friends.  Very sorry I’ve been slow to update you on Jim’s status.  After about a month total of hospitalization, he’s home and doing well!  Yay and praise God!

As I stated in my last post, Jim contracted a rare form of a fungal infection involving his organs.  After the spleenectomy, however, his fevers that had spiked upwards of 104, instantly subsided and his condition began improving.

His doctors expect that he may need a year of oral anti-fungal meds, but that they can completely eradicate the remaining infection.

We are believing for an even speedier recovery than they expect.  I can already tell he’s better, because he is yearning to return to flying.  I hope that he can do so soon.

Life can sure take unexpected turns, making you feel like everything is coming apart at the seams.  Although it has been difficult, God has amazed us by His goodness.  He did not cause all of this to happen to Jim, but knew it was coming.  He so mercifully spread everything out to where right when I began doing better after my neck surgery and was driving again, things happened with Jim.  Had it all hit at once, it would have been disastrous for us.  We both thank and praise Him for watching over us all the way.

I am hoping soon to reconnect with you all through blogging. 

Thank you very much for your prayers.  God has done great things, by miraculously revealing and now healing my husband.  According to a promise He gave me, the dark clouds are gone and there is bright sunshine ahead.

Hallelujah!

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily”
Isaiah 58:8a

A Shocker to Everyone ~ In a Good Way!

For those of you who have followed the updates about my surgery, then found out from my last post about my husband’s health issues, I need to let you know of the good news about him.

He underwent surgery last week to remove his spleen, due to severe enlargement.  Because his overall health had declined significantly over the past couple of months, he was not an ideal surgical candidate.  The doctors had prepared me for the possibility that he might not do well during surgery.  They also concluded that Jim likely had some form of cancer, even though they were hopeful it was benign or treatable.

They were wrong about the cancer diagnosis, and he did great during the surgery!

The night before his surgery, I asked God that since He was really the only One who knew what was wrong with my husband’s health, if it was not a cancer diagnosis to shock everyone involved in his care ~ in a good way.  To surprise them with what they found out was the cause of his illness.

Praise God, He did just that!  The pathology report stunned every doctor, when it revealed that Jim did not have cancer, but had instead contracted a curable type of fungal infection of his spleen and possibly two other organs.  The likely cause is simply the exposure that comes from living in a humid climate, which is filled with fungal spores everywhere in the soil.  The main reason they were shocked is that few people ever get sick from this and in this way.

Jim is very frail and remains hospitalized, but is recovering well and expected to make a complete recovery.  He still needs prayer, though, since the anti-fungal medicines could take months to totally eradicate this from his system. 

But, as has been the case with every step of this huge bend in the road with Jim’s health, God has the final say.  He may decide to shock the doctors again with a sudden healing, sooner than anyone expects!

God is able!  Until then, we rejoice knowing He remains faithful and that He continues to work all things together for our good.  Our God is so very good!

Blessings to each of you,  We both appreciate all the support and prayers!

Sue

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28

 

 

Fathoms of Hopefulness ~ Update on Me and Jim

Photo taken by Jim, of a rainbow he saw while on a trip.  There is bright sunshine and a rainbow ahead!

Points of hopelessness
Dots of despair
Junctures of painfulness
Spots of heightened care

Inklings of uneasiness
Moments of tears
Situations of dreadfulness
Nights of worrisome fears

I thought it was finally time to update my readers on me and my husband.

Yes, you read correctly.  Me and my husband.

Prior to my neck surgery, I described it as another bend in the road with my health.  I never dreamed that during my recovery, my husband was also going to face a health challenge; one that nearly took his life.

My recovery is progressing well, but was more difficult than I anticipated, due to a 6 week complication of my lower spine deteriorating from being off NSAIDs.  Things finally turned around to where I went back to work part-time; however, I’ve experienced some dips with my neck, from the added stress about Jim.  Overall, though, God is keeping me strong and moving things along!

Jim’s struggle has been a huge bend in the road.

What started with some testing to decide the source of a fever and abnormal blood values, turned into a succession of two prolonged hospitalizations for him, including three days in ICU, after nearly bleeding to death from complications following a liver biopsy.  He is in the hospital still.

At this point, what we know from the testing is that he has an inflammatory, treatable condition of the liver. Unfortunately, he also needs surgery to remove his spleen and we will then know the cause of the enlargement of that organ.  He also has an underlying secondary infection, but it is responding to treatment. 

The bottom line is that my sweet husband is a very sick man, but God is guiding his team of specialists toward finding answers, and they feel as though he will soon experience restored health. He longs to return to his job as a jet pilot. 

*****

Throughout my journey with my neck surgery, I admit that there were extremely painful moments and dots of despair, times wondering if I made the right decision.  Times of questioning whether I would fully recover.

However, going through this harrowing experience, of nearly losing the love of my life, was worse.  There were absolutely situations filled with dread and plenty of tears.  There were long nights of sitting upright in waiting rooms, praying against worrisome fears.

Here is the good news:

Throughout it all, God did and continues to show Himself mighty.  He performed a wondrous deliverance by saving Jim’s life.  How we praise Him!

As promised, He never left us alone and is still our Shelter in the midst of the storm.

More than anything, I’ve discovered afresh and anew how much I need and can depend upon Jesus.

Friends, as humans we sometimes cower in discouragement or fear, but we need not.  We can instead experience:

Fathoms of hopefulness
Loads of comfort near
Plateaus of healing
Showers of blessings dear

Provision of peacefulness
Interludes of joyful cheer
Strengthening of trustfulness
Manifestations of God’s power clear

God is greater than our mountainous obstacles. With His help, we will make it through.  Because of Christ, we know with certainty that our future is secure in Him.  We have fathoms of hopefulness!

I pray that you have all been well.  I miss reading your posts and interacting through blogging, but my husband needs me more.

Jim and I both covet your prayers.  We would also love to know of any ways in which we could pray for you.

As always, blessings
Sue

Update on Sue

This is from Sue’s husband, Jim.

Sue wanted me to update you on her progress.

Everything with the surgery went well. Her recovery is slow, but progressing with few problems. In particular, her pain level is diminishing quickly.

She appreciates your continued prayers and anticipates the time when she can return to blogging.

Thank you for caring support and prayers thus far on her behalf.

Jim

*Please withhold comments for now. She will be too tempted to respond. Sue knows that you will be pleased to hear of her progress. She also wants you to know that she continues to pray for your needs, as well.

Give Me Jesus

Take your streets of gold;
Give me a place of no more pain.
Take your mansions
And all manner of heavenly gain.
Give me Jesus.

“And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.”
Revelation 21:5

Due to the neck issues, I am still having to avoid using my PC for posts, so excuse the basic format from my WP app.

I don’t know about you, but although I do long to see streets of gold in heaven, what will mean more to me is being in a place without suffering.

What will matter most, though, is spending eternity in the presence of Christ.

The photo above was an iPhone picture. Miss not sharing more of my Nikon photos! 😁

Dim, the Sun Obscured ~ Seek God’s Light

Sun Obscured

The adversary is continually trying to invade our lives with darkness. He devises gloom, discouragement, hopelessness and despair.  However, for the child of God, his tactics will not prevail.  When things grow dim, and the sun seems obscured, be encouraged knowing that God’s presence will always light your way.  He will bring you back to a place where the sun is shining brightly.

Dim, the Sun Obscured

Though the sun forbear;
Dark, as gloom ensues,
I will grasp Your hand,
Your promises, choose.

Though the leaf withers;
  Bare, the branch remains,
I will trust Your word,
Knowing it sustains.

Though the winds howl fierce;
  Near, the storm clouds brew,
I will prove Your might,
And will not be moved.

Though the world rejects;
  Cold, when friends forsake,
I will keep Your love,
Safe in Your embrace.

Though the morning fades;
  Dim, the sun obscured,
I will seek Your Light,
In hope rest assured.

****

“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy;
When I fall, I will arise;
When I sit in darkness,
The LORD will be a light to me.“
Micah 7:8

Sue Nash/2014

For other poems, see Poetry Corner

Weekly Photo Challenge: Let There Be Light ~ In the Darkness

When it is dark outside, the light from inside our church gives the stained glass a colorful glow ~ click on photo to enlarge

I love looking at this stained glass window while inside my church, but the colors are just as beautiful when viewed from the outside at night. 

My favorite part of the artwork is of the star’s light shining down on the manger. 

Jesus is the light of the world!

“I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.”
John 12:46

For other photo challenges, see Weekly Photo Challenge

From The Daily Post

Sue Nash/2013